A humbling view from ancient giants

Learn and Talk III – Lesson 64

Preview
Words Expressions

1. behemoth /bɪˈhiː.mɒθ/ [noun] wrap your arms around

something that is extremely large and often extremely powerful
line with
2. contiguous /kənˈtɪɡ.ju.əs/ [adjective]
physically adjacent; neighbouring
soak up
3. watershed /ˈwɔː.tə.ʃed/ [noun]
an area of high ground from which water flows down to a river at the base of

4. awe /ɔː/ [noun] in their presence

a feeling of great respect sometimes mixed with fear or surprise

5. endure /ɪnˈdʒʊər/ [verb]

to suffer something difficult, unpleasant, or painful

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 Learn and Talk III – Lesson 64

Article

A humbling view from ancient giants

Nothing captures the vastness of the Earth

like attempting to wrap your arms around
a giant sequoia tree, with a trunk as wide
as a building. California's Sequoia National
Park, established 26 years before the
National Park Service began in 1916, is
lined with these vertical behemoths, which
can soak up more than 2,000 to 3,000 litres
of water daily while growing skyward and
outward as they have for thousands of
years.

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 Learn and Talk III – Lesson 64

“I have a personal, spiritual attachment to this entire forest. The giant

sequoias are beautiful, massive, ancient beings, and being at the base of
one and seeing this big orange trunk that’s five to seven metres in
diameter and 90m tall – with sprawling crowns and massive scars – is an
incredibly humbling experience,” Ambrose said.

Plus, the trees stand within full view of Mount Whitney, the highest
mountain summit in the contiguous United States. “It’s a tremendously
beautiful area,” he continued. “I’m incredibly fortunate to be able to do
these physically demanding, adventurous climbs within the giant sequoias’
crowns and get an experience that not a lot of people are able to have.”

Beyond climbing, Ambrose has hiked or observed nearly every inch

of Sequoia National Park and has a few favourite spots that anyone
can access. “Moro Rock, is an easily accessible granite dome
overlooking the middle fork of the Kaweah River, right on the edge
of the Giant Forest grove that provides amazing views of the
surrounding, the watershed and the central valley of California,” he
said.
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 Learn and Talk III – Lesson 64

Why millions of people venture to Sequoia National Park to gaze at –

and take pictures with – giant sequoias is no mystery. In their
presence, you feel a sense of limitless awe. Everyone who visits them
usually chooses a favourite tree – like the 2.7 million pound General
Sherman, the largest known living tree on Earth – to pose in front of
and show that scale. Ambrose prefers The President, which was on
the cover of National Geographic in 2012: “I think is actually even
more impressive than the General Sherman. Though it’s slightly
smaller by width volume, it’s got a way more impressive crown.”

Professor Anthony Ambrose – a tree biologist and research scientist at UC

Berkeley – is the ultimate caretaker of the giant sequoia, considered to be
one of the oldest living things on Earth. As an undergrad and graduate
student, he studied the natural resource management of redwood trees,
an even taller but skinnier tree that thrives along the state’s Pacific Coast.
Today, he regularly climbs to the tops of the giant sequoias, working in the
200- to 300ft-high canopies to gather information on how the enduring
California drought is affecting one of Earth’s most ancient species.

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 Learn and Talk III – Lesson 64

Discussion

1. Have you seen very big trees?

2. Talk about a place that you’ve traveled to and that makes you
feel a sense of awe.
3. What should be our attitude toward nature?

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 Learn and Talk III – Lesson 64

Further Reading

http://www.51voa.com/VOA_Special_English/americas-national-parks-sequoia-kings-canyon-california-
71479.html

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